This Heroine's Friend Has the Power of Botany

Chapter 105

Punishment

"Sigh, is this really how you want it?" Ellie asked coldly. The items they were demanding, worth less than a single gold coin, weren’t of much value to her. But being threatened and having her benefits forcibly taken was something she couldn’t tolerate.

"Why? Are you unwilling to help us? We are senior hunters with experience and frequently hunt in this area. Helping us now will definitely bring you good returns."

"Exactly, why the hesitation!? Hand over the meat, the cart, and that luring potion." The two men continued speaking, oblivious to their impending fate.

Ellie tilted her head slightly, using the spores around to sense how many onlookers were nearby. Despite there being more than 20 people around, no one stepped in to stop the bullying of the newcomer by this gang. Very well...if no one else would solve this problem, she would do it herself.

Pop!

The girl popped the cap off the luring potion bottle, creating a small sound. The faces of the thugs were initially full of amusement until they saw Ellie actually open the bottle.

"W-What are you doing?!"

"Hey, newbie! Don’t you know that killing someone will get you expelled from the association? You’ll become a criminal and face the law!"

"The association’s rules are clear. If you commit a crime like this, you’ll certainly be punished!!" They yelled, stepping back a full body length from the small figure.

Everyone knew the potency of the luring potion. As long as they didn’t want to die, they shouldn’t mess with it! None of them expected that the novice hunter would truly use it. The association’s strict rules meant that anyone caught committing such a crime would be severely punished, unless it happened away from prying eyes!

If they had been ambushing Ellie in the forest, they might have backed off at the sight of the luring potion. But this wasn’t deep in the forest, and there were many witnesses. If the newbie dared to splash the potion on them, he’d have to face the consequences. They didn’t believe the novice would actually go through with it, unless he was insane!

And they never expected that this hunter in front of them was truly crazy!

"I’m aware," came Ellie’s chilling reply. Her cold eyes looked at them as if they were already dead.

The sternness in her voice showed that this novice hunter meant business. If they hesitated any longer, they’d likely become bait for the surrounding beasts.

"Y-You know? You know and you still intend to do it?"

"What’s the problem? If I sacrifice once to get rid of trash like you from the Hunters’ Association, it will raise the association’s standards, don’t you think? Instead of letting scum like you bully others...don’t you think I’m doing a good deed?"

"Y-You! You’re insane! If you dare to do this, you’ll certainly be punished. If you use it on all 6 of us, you’ll be executed too!"

"Do you really think I’ll be executed?" Ellie looked up at them, then cast her eyes down with disdain. Though they couldn’t see her face, they could feel that she was likely smirking arrogantly.

"No way, you’ll definitely..."

"I didn’t intend to kill you. Wasn’t it you who tried to rob me, causing me to panic and accidentally throw the luring potion at you?" Hearing this excuse, the 6 thugs exchanged fearful glances.

This kid was turning the tables on them with cunning tactics. They had intended to bully the newcomer, but now it seemed the newcomer was bullying them!

"Hah! You’re confident because of those flimsy excuses? Do you think the officials are stupid and will believe you? There are plenty of witnesses here, and they will all say that you attacked us!"

"Will it really be like that?" As soon as the other finished speaking, Ellie shook her head. Her eyes looked at the thugs disguised as hunters with a gaze full of hatred.

"W-What do you mean?"

"Didn’t you understand what I said? I asked if you’re sure things will go as you think. Especially about the witnesses—do you think they’ll back you up by saying I’m lying? Then tell me, what part of my story is false? They can be witnesses for you, but they can also be witnesses for me. If I say you tried to rob me, isn’t that exactly what you’re doing? Your witnesses know that too."

"And about me throwing the luring potion at you, I’m telling the truth. I’m confessing everything truthfully. Why would they say I’m lying?"

Ellie’s mocking tone matched her playful gesture of raising and twirling the luring potion in her gloved hand. The 6 thugs looked at each other, realizing they had picked the wrong target. But as experienced hunters, would they admit defeat so easily? Their faces contorted with anger, showing just how furious they were.

"Damn it! That newbie has really angered the gang. This won’t end with just a robbery now."

"Does that kid not think he’ll have to hunt here again? Why provoke them like that?"

"This time he got away, but what about next time? Why not just let it go the first time, consider it bad luck? Next time, he can just check if this group of thugs is around. Acting like this is just asking for trouble."

"Sigh, newbies are like that. They don’t think things through. Overconfident newbies always end up dead."

"When I was new, I got robbed too. But after that, I slowly made them happy, and eventually, they stopped robbing me."

"I was the same. We’ve all been through it."

Seeing the thugs’ rage, those watching whispered among themselves. They didn’t blame the robbers but rather criticized Ellie. Now she was seen as an overly confident newbie bringing trouble upon herself...even though she wasn’t in the wrong.

"Fine! Since you’ve decided to act this way...this time we’ll swallow our pride and let you go. But...be careful. The day you let your guard down will be your last!"

"After disgracing us, don’t think you’ll hunt in this tower peacefully again."

"We tried talking nicely, but you didn’t get it. So, prepare for our retribution!"

"I’m declaring it right now! If anyone dares to support this one, they’ll face our wrath!"

"See you around, kid...When that day comes, I hope you’re still as mouthy. Spit!!"

The thugs spat at the girl’s feet. Their threats were clear. After today, no one would dare approach Ellie in Luke’s guise again, as she had incited their anger. Anyone who associated with her would suffer the consequences too.

Anyone else targeted like this might be scared to death, but not Ellie!

It was actually a good thing that no one would bother her. She didn’t come here to join a group anyway. If she wanted group members, she could just come as Ellie, no need to disguise herself. The Setter family would be ready to send dozens of skilled guards. But that wasn’t what she wanted.

Ellie watched the thugs leave, their threats still hanging in the air. A small smile appeared at the corner of her lips. Seeing that no one was blocking her path anymore, Ellie pulled her cart and continued on her way. Meanwhile, the thieves, disguised as hunters, remained oblivious to the impending doom that was creeping up on them.

Bang!!

"Damn it! That newbie really doesn’t know his place. We even gave him some face because we acknowledge his skills, and this is how he repays us?"

"Exactly, boss. He challenged us, threatening us with that luring potion. If it wasn’t for that potion, do you think he’d still be alive?"

"Newbies are all the same—arrogant and clueless about death! After this, I’ll make him kneel and beg for his life, and then he’ll learn that death would be a mercy!"

"Great idea, boss. I’d love to chop his arms into tiny pieces."

"And I want to cut off his legs. Let’s see how he’d cry out when he can’t walk anywhere else."

"How about I cut his tongue out? Haha, imagine wanting to scream but being unable to. How much suffering would that be?!"

"I’ll cut off his manhood and feed it to the beasts. He’ll wish he was a woman instead!"

"Good! Let’s keep an eye on him. As soon as he takes on a mission, that’ll be his end!"

The 6 of them were determined to deal with the newbie hunter. The more they talked, the more satisfaction they felt, as if punishing Ellie had already begun. Then, one of the group members noticed something strange about his tongue.

A numbing pain started to spread without any apparent cause. He spat, thinking an insect had flown into his mouth during his loud laughter. But when he spat, instead of an insect, a large amount of blood splattered on the ground.

The first time there was blood, the second time as well, and the pain intensified. He realized he couldn’t speak anymore because his tongue, which had been there just moments ago, had suddenly vanished.

"Ah, ah! Ah, un ah ay!! At ah ell!! Ah!!"

The screams of shock and fear echoed through the forest. The other members looked at their comrade, who was now screaming at the top of his lungs. They saw that his mouth, which had just been cursing the newbie hunter, was now filled with only teeth and a pool of blood. His tongue, which had been flicking up and down, had disappeared without a trace.

Seeing this, how could they not be shocked!? Fear spread across their faces. They wanted to ask what had happened, but it was too late...their own bodies started experiencing strange phenomena as well.

Some felt pain in their arms, others in their legs. Soon...their limbs began to vanish, looking quite magical.

It would have been a rare and fascinating sight if this phenomenon happened to someone else. But for those affected, there was no room for such feelings.

Organs disappearing from their own bodies without a trace, without any chance to resist—who wouldn’t be terrified!?

"A-Argh!! What the hell is happening?! My arm, my arm!!"

"My leg, my leg. Why is this happening? Argh!! Help, help."

"Give me a healing potion now! I need it, it hurts, it hurts so much! Argh!!"

The agonized screams of the hunters filled the Green Zone of the forest. Many people heard and were greatly alarmed. Some rushed to see what was happening. Others, finding the screams oddly satisfying, hid and listened quietly, letting these scum face their well-deserved fate!

Despite the strange occurrence, no one wanted to ask about its origin. Especially when linking it to the identity of "Luke," no one suspected him.

A newbie who had to resort to using a luring potion to intimidate others couldn’t possibly be the one causing organ to vanish. If he had such an ability, why would he take the risk of using the potion in the first place?

Everyone had seen that "Luke" was willing to risk his life by using the luring potion if bullied, showing that he would rather die together with them by using this luring potion.

In their minds, if someone had the ability to dissolve their enemies’ organs, they would just use it to teach a lesson, wouldn’t they? Hurting someone a little wasn’t considered a serious crime. Compared to being threatened and robbed first, it wouldn’t require any compensation. But Luke didn’t do that...which clearly indicated he wasn’t the one responsible.

Unbeknownst to them, the boy they didn’t think was involved was grinning happily somewhere far away. The image of those scoundrels receiving their punishment was as clear as if seeing it firsthand. The destruction of their organs was a direct response to their own words. Since they were planning to harm her, they could taste the consequences of their intentions first...Weren’t they having so much fun just a moment ago? So why were they crying for help now!?

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